Terrell Owens to Bengals: Fantasy Football Impact analysis
Terrell Owens has officially agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Bengals on a $2 million dollar contract with $2 million in incentives according to Pro Football Talk. Terrell Owens will provide the Bengals with the second credible receiving threat they have been lacking since T.J and will provide the Bengals with one of the most formidable wide receiver corps and overall offensive attacks in the NFL.
While the theatrics of Owens and Ochocinco will make every Bengals game must watch TV, the fact is this is a really good football move.
With Antonio Bryant a possibility to be starting training camp on the PUP list the Owens signing is all the more important; when Bryant comes back this team with its effective run game will be one of the most terrifying in the NFL for opposing defensive coordinators.
Fantasy Impact
Terrell Owens is now obviously a hot pickup if you have already drafted and is someone to target as a upside flex receiver in upcoming drafts. He obviously has tremendous upside and the potential is there for a WR2 season, but it is more likely that he settles in with WR3 value and provides owners with a solid second half The fact that he has already been working out with Palmer will only accelerate with acclimation to the Bengals offense. With that said temper your expectations as this is still a run first offense but the addition of T.O will undoubtedly open things up for a more balanced attack than last year and allow for T.O to have a mini-comeback season.
Cedric Benson’s fantasy value is unaffected as he will, health permitting, crack 300 carries again this season and the addition of T.O only helps Benson’s fantasy value. Defenses will now have to give the run game more breathing room than otherwise as they also have to deal with a potential hall of fame tandem of Ochocinco and Owens out wide for the Bengals.
Carson Palmer also sees a significant upgrade and now can firmly be trusted as a QB1. With Ochocinco, Owens, Bryant (when healthy), Shipley and Caldwell, Carson Palmer is sitting pretty. A 25+ TD season is not out of the realm of expectations and seems like a good bet. Draft with confidence as a low-end QB1.
Chad Ochocinco only stands to benefit from Terrell Owens’ arrival as well. Opposing D’s will no longer be able to key in on Ochocinco and will have to give him more room to operate due to the presence of T.O.
Antonio Bryant’s value takes a serious hit with this acquisition of Owens and if you drafted him to be a starter you should make other arrangements. As mentioned above he is beginning training camp on the PUP list and his fantasy value is not as significant as his potential actual impact on the Bengals this season.
